USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 48
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 48
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He is a Republican in his political convictions, and in 1905 was elected to the office of justice of the peace of Greenville, to serve for a five years' term. In the same year he was elected by the Republican party of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, as a delegate to the state convention at Harrisburg. He is a public-spirited citizen. taking a great interest in all pertaining to the welfare of his town, and always ready to assist any en- terprise tending to advance its interests.
JAMES M. SHOBER.
.James M. Shober, a representative citizen of Garrett, Penn- sylvania, was born in Brothers Valley township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in the house he now owns and resides in, September 6, 1855. His early ancestors were natives of Switz- erland, but his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were natives of this country.
His father, George W. Shober, born September 15, 1826, son of Jacob Shober, was a man of deep religious conviction. He was a member and later a minister of the Church of God. Although owning and conducting a farm of four hundred acres, he traveled over the country and preached in the churches of all denominations as well as his own. Creed sat lightly on his shoulders, and all Christians were his brethren. He was first a Whig and later a Prohibitionist, but with the exception of a few minor offices would not accept the public positions offered him. On January 25, 1852, he married Leah B. Berkley, daugh- ter of Solomon and Catherine (Boger) Berkley, and they were the parents of two sons and two daughters: Samuel U., mar- ried Sarah Kimmell: James M., of whom later; Laura V., who became the wife of Alexander Coleman: Eximena, who became the wife of Wesley Landis. George W. Shober (father) died June 15, 1897. His wife, Leah B. (Berkley) Shober, who is a member of the Brethren church, is living at the present time (1906) on the old homestead.
James M. Shoher was educated in the common and normal schools of the county. His intention was to make teaching his vocation in life, but upon making a trip to Richardson county, Nebraska, in 1880, he changed his mind and determined to be-
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come a western farmer. On returning east to make his arrange- ments he found his parents so opposed to this plan that he abandoned it, and instead took the home farm and has remained on it ever since. The farm is substantially the same in size as when he purchased it-four hundred acres-but he has remod- eled and enlarged the house and built the most commodious barn in the county. The farm is well stocked with good horses and blooded Short-Horn cattle. It is also underlaid with four veins of coal varying from four to seven feet in thickness, and the plant of the Somerset Coal Company is located on the farm. W. D. Althouse leased the coal right of two of the veins and opened the first mine, but subsequently sold to the above named company. These two veins return to Mr. Shober a roy- alty, while he retains all his rights in the other veins. There are also large, fine orchards on the property, and a sugar camp of fifteen hundred vessels producing from four to five thousand pounds annually. This farm has been in the possession of three generations of Shobers. In politics Mr. Shober is strictly in- dependent. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, of Berlin. He is a member of the Maccabees, and is commander of the lodge located at Garrett, Pennsylvania. He has passed all the chairs of the Protective Home Circle of Garrett, is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Berlin, and member of Beachdale Lodge, Patrons of Husbandry, in which he has passed all the chairs. Mr. Shober is an independent, original thinker and possesses a strong, manly character. He is now (1906) in his fifty-first year, alert and active, and Brothers Val- ley is rich in having such men as he within her borders.
Mr. Shober married, December 22, 1882, Ada E. Coleman, born April 4, 1864, educated in the common schools, and died May 28, 1902, daughter of Jacob J. and Mary (Musser) Cole- man. Fifteen children were the issue of this union, five of whom-four sons and one daughter-died in infancy and early childhood. The names of the surviving children are as follows: Lucy C., born in 1883, received her education in the com- mon and normal schools and is now a teacher; Clayton P., born July 8, 1884, has chosen farming as his occupation and will suc- ceed his father, making the fourth generation on the home farm; Melda V., born May 14, 1891; Ivy L., born August 1, 1892; Etta L., born January 22, 1894; Etha Linda, born August 27, 1895; Galen M., born October 10, 1896; Helen M., born November 2, 1897 ; James J., born April 29, 1899; Ada M., born May 2, 1902.
THOMAS FAMILY.
The earliest known ancestor of the Thomas family, repre- sented by Abraham Jacob and Richard Franklin Thomas, resi- dents of Boynton, was Benjamin Thomas, who resided in Som-
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erset county and there reared a family of children, among whom was Jacob Thomas, a native of Somerset county, where he lived all his life and followed the occupation of farming. He was a member of the German Baptist church, and in poli- tics was first a Whig and later a Republican. Jacob Thomas married Rebecca Zonesbury, who bore him the following chil- dren: Abraham J., of whom more will be written; Amos, de- ceased; Elizabeth (Mrs. Samuel Chrissner) ; Barbara (Mrs. David Beachley, of Ohio) ; Mary, deceased (Mrs. Samuel Hawn), Samuel, a farmer of Milford township; Jacob, a salesman, liv- ing near Salisbury, and two who died in infancy. Jacob Thomas, father of these children, died at the age of seventy-one, and his wife at the age of ninety-one.
Abraham Jacob Thomas, eldest son of Jacob and Rebecca (Zonesbury) Thomas, was born September 9, 1837, in Milford township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. His education was received in the township schools of Elk Lick. He worked for the farmers of the neighborhood, and when twenty-seven years of age learned the trade of cooper, which he followed ten years. He then became a coal miner and for ten years dug coal in the mines of Somerset county. Having accumulated sufficient capi- tal, he erected a store building in Boynton, and for six years thereafter conducted a general store. He then sold the stock and fixtures to his son, Richard F., and built his present resi- dence in Boynton, where he has since lived a retired life, free from business cares. Mr. Thomas enlisted in the Union army, October 21, 1862, in Company K, One Hundred and Seventy- first Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He served his term of enlistment, nine months, and was honorably discharged Au- gust 10, 1863. He is a Republican, and in 1884 served as su- pervisor of Elk Lick township. He is a member of the Brethren church and of the Elk Lick congregation.
Abraham Jacob Thomas married (first), January 12, 1858, Sarah Meyers, daughter of John and Anna Meyers, of Bedford county, and their children were: Annie, deceased, was the wife of Joel Kinsinger; Ellen C. (Mrs. Milton Blough) ; Richard Franklin, see forward; Alvin, resides in Garrett and is em- ployed by the Baltimore & Ohio railroad; he married Ada Fer- rell; Amanda (Mrs. Arthur Robinson), and Margaret (Mrs. Wallace Fike). Mrs. Sarah Thomas, the mother of these chil- dren, died August 24, 1890. Mr. Thomas married (second), October 22, 1891, Mrs. Elizabeth Grooms, widow of William H. Grooms. There is no issue of this marriage. The children of Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas by her first marriage were: Ellen F. (Mrs. Eugene Oden), Robert A., deceased; Margaret M. (Mrs. Joseph Man Kenyer), and William H., deceased.
Richard Franklin Thomas, eldest son of Abraham Jacob
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and Sarah (Meyers) Thomas, was born in Boynton, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1864. He attended the town- ship schools, and early in life was a worker in the Keystone coal mines. This occupation he alternated with working on a farm until he was eighteen years old, when he went to Ohio and there worked for two years with his uncle, Peter Meyers. Returning to Pennsylvania, he resumed mining and farming, and for two years was employed in the sawmill of George S. Young, and the following five years worked in the mines. In 1894 he estab- lished a general store in Boynton, which he sold out in 1898, and for the following three years worked for the Hamilton Supply Company and the Somerset Coal Company. In 1903 he built his present store in Boynton and has since conducted a general business, which has now assumed large proportions. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion an adherent of the Brethren church and a member of the Elk Lick congrega- tion.
Richard Franklin Thomas, married, May 14, 1893, Mary Eckert, a daughter of Thomas and Josephine Eckert, and their children are: Eva, Mary, Josephine, Richard, Margaret and Elizabeth Thomas.
JAMES HAMILTON BLACK.
The Black family is one of the very oldest Somerset county families, they having settled there as early as 1760. The most famous member of this family was Judge Jeremiah S. Black, who was born in Stony Creek township, as was also his father, Henry Black, who was a member of congress from this district at the time of his death in 1842. The Black family from their earliest settlement in the county down to the present time (1906) have been prominent in legal, political and business affairs, and in whatever branch they engaged were always lead- ers.
James Black, grandfather of James H. and Frank B. Black, was born near Berlin, Pennsylvania, and afterwards settled at Somerfield, Somerset county, where he conducted a tannery and engaged in the manufacture of stoneware. He also owned farming lands, which he cultivated and improved. He married Catherine Johnson, one of the Berlin family of that name, and their children were: George J., of whom later; Albert G., re- tired merchant of Confluence, the only member of the family now living; his sons are engaged in business at Confluence and comprise the firm of A. G. Black's Sons; Newton, for many years a merchant of Uniontown; James S., one of the earliest bankers of Meyersdale, a member for many years of the bank- ing firm of Philson, Black & Co., now the Citizens' National Bank of Meyersdale; he married a daughter of Samuel Philson;
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Sarah Ellen, became the wife of James S. Hook, of Somerfield; Charlotte, married (first) James Hamilton, and (second) Char- les Rush. Two other daughters of James Black died while still in their teens. James Black, father of these children, died at an advanced age.
George J. Black, father of James H. and Frank B. Black, was born at Somerfield, Addison township, Somerset county, June 6, 1828. He succeeded to the business of his father after his school days were over, carried on the manufacture of stone- ware and conducted a large general store in Somerfield until 1873. when he removed to Meyersdale and founded a plant there for the manufacture of the stoneware, and also engaged in mercantile business. He was a Republican in politics. In 1887 he was elected treasurer of Somerset county for a term of three years, in 1896 associate judge, an office he filled for five years, and at the time of his death was tax collector for the borough of Meyersdale. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church and held the important official positions in that body.
In 1851 George J. Black married Sarah Margaret Brad- field, daughter of John and Ann Bradfield, of Loudon county, Virginia, and their children were: Alverda C., wife of George Hopwood, of Uniontown; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Robert H. Koontz; Annie, of Meyersdale, unmarried; Susan L., wife of William T. Hoblitzell, of Meyersdale; James Hamil- ton, see forward; Frank B., see forward; J. Milton, coal oper- ator of Somerset. George J. Black was a man of deep religious conviction and purpose, the soul of honor, and filled the great position of trust committed to him faithfully. His useful and honorable life terminated November 20, 1902, in his seventy- fifth year. His wife, Sarah Margaret (Bradfield) Black, was born in 1821 in Somerset county, and her death occurred in May, 1897. She was one of a family of nine children. She was an active, earnest member of the Methodist church.
James Hamilton Black, second son and fifth child of George J. and Sarah Margaret (Bradfield) Black, was born at Somer- field, Addison township, Somerset county, December 21, 1861. ITe received his early education in the Somerfield and Meyers- dale schools, he being in his twelfth year when his parents re- moved to the latter town. This knowledge was supplemented by a course in the summer normal schools and by two years at Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He early worked in his father's store, and for three years following the completion of his studies served in the capacity of clerk. In connection with his brother, Frank B., they took over the manu- facturing business of their father and continued it for three years under the style of Black Bros. James H. then sold his
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interest and became a bookkeeper for George W. Gassman, a hardware dealer. In 1893 he became interested in life insur- ance and took the local agency for the' Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. He was very successful in this line of work and was promoted to be district manager over a much larger territory. He still continues in this business and is recognized as an exceedingly able and reliable authority on in- surance matters and detail. Mr. Black's other business inter- ests are in coal mines, largely. He is treasurer of the Liston- burg Coal Mining Company, treasurer and general manager of the Listonburg Coal and Coke Company and a stockholder in the banks of Meyersdale and Addison, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a Republican in politics and a member of Meyersdale Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and Johnstown Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
James H. Black married, May 9, 1894, Anna S. H. Stough- ton, widow of Robert A. Stoughton, by whom she had one son, Robert, who is now superintendent of the Listonburg mines. Mrs. Black is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Hill) Hud- dleston, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Episcopal church.
FRANK BRADFIELD BLACK.
Frank Bradfield Black. third son and sixth child of George J. and Sarah Margaret (Bradfield) Black, was born in Addison township, April 17, 1864.
He attended the public and normal schools at Meyersdale until about his twentieth year. In 1884 he succeeded his father in the manufacturing of stoneware, etc., at Meyersdale, and in 1886 added the manufacture of drain tile to the business, and the succeeding year added brick manufacturing. He continued in this business very successfully until 1902, when he sold the plant. Being an ambitious, self-reliant man, Mr. Black believed he was able to handle successfully large operations, and with keen foresight saw that the signs all pointed to the soft coal industry as the one in which a man of ability, nerve and energy could successfully operate. He began by buying options on coal properties. In 1900-01, with S. A. Kendall and others, he incorporated the Casselman Coal Company, of Meyersdale, with mines at Garrett: Mr. Black was secretary of the company, which in about a year was sold at a handsome profit to the Somerset Coal Company. The success of this, his first, venture on a large scale, gave Mr. Black the capital and increased cour- age for greater undertakings. In 1902 he helped to organize and incorporate the Meyersdale Coal Company, which purchased the mines and other property of the Wells Creek Coal Company,
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which they capitalized at $100,000, under the name of the Mey- ersdale Coal Company, with Mr. Black as president. Their mines are located on Wells creck and other points on the Som- erset branch. After a time the capital stock was increased to $200,000, and several other properties purchased.
With this company in fine condition and shipping about seven hundred tons daily, Mr. Black resigned the presidency, and in 1903 organized the Garrett Coal Company, a corporation with mines at and near Garrett, Pennsylvania. Mr. Black is treasurer and general manager and is putting the property in fine condition. The output daily is one thousand tons; the plant is new and modern, and to its operation Mr. Black gives his personal attention. He is also president of the Big Vein Coal Company, of Elk Lick. Early in his mining operations Mr. Black saw the great importance of having an eastern agency for marketing the coal of his companies, thus eliminating the middlemen, or selling agents, who absorbed a large share of the profits. He found the right men, and in 1902 formed the Black Field and Emmons Company, under the laws of New York, with offices at No. 1 Broadway, New York City. This is purely a selling company and handles the product of the Black companies, except that sold direct from the mines. Mr. Black was the first Somerset county operator to force his way into eastern markets and sell his own coal. The Black Field and Emmons Company have been very successful in building up an immense demand for their product, and are one of the largest dealers in soft coal in New York City.
Mr. Black's business enterprises, of which we name the more important, are many and varied. He is a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Garrett and a director of the Citizens' National Bank of Meyersdale. He owns a farm of one hundred and eighty acres on the Garrett road, two miles from Meyersdale, where he has his summer home. He has built a modern brick residence in Meyersdale on the corner of Front and Beachley streets. Mr. Black has shown himself a success- ful man. He started with no capital but a stout heart, an un- failing courage and an unbounded confidence in himself and his plans. While he is deeply engrossed in his business, Mr. Black is not umindful of his duties as a citizen. He has contributed largely toward the upbuilding and improvement of Meyersdale and is always ready to lend a hand to advance her interests. He served two years in the borough council and one term as tax collector. In church relations he is a Methodist and in politics a Republican. Fraternally he belongs to Meyersdale Lodge, No. 554, Free and Accepted Masons, and Hebron Chapter, No. 272, Royal Arch Masons.
Mr. Black married, October 12, 1892, Flora M., daughter of
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John B. and Elizabeth (Stahl) Snyder, of Somerset, Pennsylva- nia. She was edneated in the schools of Somerset and at Mary- land College, Lutherville, Maryland. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Black are: Frank S., born September 1, 1894; William H., born March 24, 1897; Elizabeth S., born June 15, 1900; John B., born June 2, 1906; Flora S., born March 20, 1902, died March 25, 1903.
SAYLOR FAMILY.
This was originally a German family and the name was spelled "Syler." The American ancestors settled in Pennsyl- vania about 1700.
(I) Jacob Saylor was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1737. He was a soldier in the war for independence, and his religious faith was of the German Reformed church. He came to Somerset county about 1780.
(II) Samuel Saylor, son of Jacob Saylor, born in Som- erset county, Pennsylvania, in 1783, married and reared a fam- ily, and among their sous was one named Samuel S. Saylor.
(III) Samuel S. Saylor, son of Samuel Saylor, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1814. He followed farming for a livelihood. He reared a large family, many of whom have become prominent and prosperous citizens of Som- erset county. He was of the German Reformed church faith and in polities a Democrat. He proved his loyalty to his coun- try during the dark days of the Rebellion by serving under the nine months' enlistment as a member of Company E, One Hun- dred and Thirty-third Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. He died at Somerset, Pennsylvania, in 1882. He was united in marriage to Caroline Berkey, daughter of Daniel and Kate (Zimmerman) Berkey, the latter named having been born in 1808, and died at the extreme old age of ninety-two years. Mrs. Caroline (Berkey) Saylor died in 1880. The Berkeys and Zimmermans
are a numerous family in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Saylor, seven of whom survive, as follows: Andrew J .; Daniel; Franklin P .; James; William; Mary; and Emma. The deceased are: Polly; Catherine; Rebecca; Lizzie; and Edmond. The parents of these children both held membership in the United Evangelical church and were buried at Pleasant Hill cemetery, Somerset county, Pennsylvania.
(IV) Franklin Pierce Saylor, son of Samuel S. and Caro- line (Berkey) Saylor, was born June 30, 1850, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. His education was obtained at the com- mon schools and at Central Pennyslvania College, the latter in- stitution conferring upon him the degree of master of science. He became a minister in the United Evangelical church, of
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which denomination he has been a member for thirty-five years. In church life he has been a very active man. He served as member of the board of examinations for ten years; member of the board of publication; was elected and served as presiding elder of his church; and was delegate to the general conference and board of missions. From February, 1864, to February, 1867, he was a member of the Sixteenth United States Infantry Regiment and made a good soldier, ever willing to perform any. duty assigned him. In his political affiliations he has ever been counted a staunch Republican. He served as prothonotary and clerk of the county during the years 1894-95-96. He is a devout member of the United Evangelical church, as above noted. The following orders claim him as one of their active members : R. P. Cummins Post, No. 210, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was commander and chaplain; Knights of the Golden Eagle; Mystic Chain; and Junior Order of American Mechan- ics. Being a man of ability and learning, he had much to do with public affairs, and he frequently appeared on the plat- form, rostrum and pulpit, ever advocating the right and de- nouncing the wrong in both church and state. Aside from his pulpit career he has been connected with a number of business enterprises, in which he has been successful. He was nominated in June, 1906, for the legislature by the Lincoln Republicans, Democrats and Prohibitionists as the fusion candidate. Being extensively acquainted all over the county, and having many friends in all parties and factions, his chances for election are excellent. Having himself served three years during the War of '61-'65, he also had one son, George W. Saylor, to serve in Company H, Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the Spanish-American war.
Mr. Saylor married, June 20, 1869, at Somerset, Pennsyl- vania, Harriet Jane Poorbaugh, the daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Ringley) Poorbangh, which families are both of prominence in the history of Somerset county. Mr. and Mrs. Saylor are the parents of the following children: Norman S., born February 13, 1870, see forward; George W., born August 24. 1872; Tibbie A., born December 3, 1874, deceased, was a bright and accomplished young lady; Calvin W., born June 30, 1877; Carrie V., born March 20, 1879; Mary Ada, born August 27, 1882; Frank C., born September 13, 1884; Harry D., born March 19, 1889. These eight children were all well educated and settled and made homes for themselves in various places in Pennsylvania.
(IV) James B. Saylor, lumberman of Somerset, Pennsyl- vania, was born September 2, 1857, in Stony Creek, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, son of Samuel S. and Caroline (Berkey) Saylor. His father, a cooper by trade, had a large family, and
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consequently the educational advantages enjoyed by his children were necessarily limited to the common schools. After com- pleting his education, at an early age, he followed farming for several years, but subsequently turned his attention to contract- ing in the lumber business, which has been his chief vocation during his life. At first he took contracts to cut and clear from the stump. He was interested with others in this line of work up to 1899, when he was elected sheriff of Somerset county for the term of three years. After his term had expired he again engaged in the lumber business on his own account, and now operates a mill located about five miles from Somerset, having but recently located there, having operated mills at other points previously. Besides his sawmill and general lumbering trade, which has become quite extensive, he also owns two tracts of farming land hard by the borough of Somerset, which he farms in a successful manner, producing grain and grass. Believing in good old-time Democracy, he votes with that political or- ganization. His popularity in both parties, in fact, resulted in his election to the office of sheriff of Somerset county in 1899. He made a most honorable and competent sheriff and retired from the political arena to the business pursuits of life. He is an honored member of the Sons of Veterans, being made eligible by his father's service during the Civil war. He is also a member of the Order of Elks, No. 175; Royal Arcanum, No. 985; and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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